Rare Chance to See Comet the Size of Mount Everest
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| Illustration: time.news |
Spotting the Comet
This month, stargazers have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a comet the size of Mount Everest streaking across the sky. Known as Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks, it has been compared to the Star Wars Millennium Falcon due to its two distinctive "horns" that can be seen in photographs.
Locating the Comet
While amateur astronomers have already started capturing images of the comet using specialized telescopes, it will soon be visible to the naked eye. To locate Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, look westward in the night sky to find the Great Square of Pegasus, which consists of four stars of similar brightness. The comet is currently making a meandering V-shaped movement from the Great Square of Pegasus towards Aries the Ram over the next three weeks.
Rare Sighting
Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks is a rare sight, only visible from Earth once every 71 years as it completes its journey around the sun. On April 21, the comet is expected to be as close as 72.5 million miles (116.8 million km) to the sun. Then, on June 2, it will make a near pass of 144 million miles (232 million km) to Earth. Astronomer Jessica Lee suggests that late March will be the best time to observe the comet if you are in the northern hemisphere.
What to Look For
While the appearance and brightness of the comet are unpredictable, Lee advises the public to be on the lookout for what appears to be "an irregularly shaped dirty snowball." Lee further explains that the comet is predicted to reach its maximum brightness for viewers in the northern hemisphere in late March. It will be located in the constellation of Aries, which can be seen in the western sky shortly after sunset. Lee recommends finding a location with a clear view of the horizon in the west and choosing a night with clear skies.
What to Expect
During this near approach, Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks is expected to appear to the naked eye as a dim, star-like blob with a fuzzy tail.
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